Emergency chain



June 19, 1934. ROUND ET AL 1,963,631

EMERGENCY CHAIN Filed NOV. 25, 1931 Avvavroea 6%42455/1 pan 2 M] ATTORNEYS Patented june 19, 1934 I 11 1,963,631-

EMERGENCY CHAIN Louis D. Round, Garfield Heights, and Charles M. Power, Kent, Ohio, assignors to The Cleveland Chain & Manufacturing Company, Garfield Heights, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 25, 1931, Serial No. 577,290

1 Claim. (Cl. 15214) This invention, :as indicated, relates to an link or links of the chain are preferably flat links emergency chain. More particularly, it comwherein the central links of the chain are preferprises a supporting plate adapted to be engaged ably twisted links to provide greater traction with the felly of a spoked wheel of an automowhen the chain is in use.

bile, and a chain having its ends connected with At the other end of the base plate the side 60 such plate and having its central portion engaged edges are folded upwardly to provide an upstandsnugly around the tire. Such chains are more ing channel member 7, Within which one end of particularly used asvemergency chains when one the locking lever 8 is adapted to be received. A or more wheels fail to get traction in a mud-hole pivot pin 9 is engaged through the outer portion or on similar slippery surface, but their use is of the channel member and through an aperture 65 by no means limited in this manner as they may 11 formed centrally of a sharply hooked portion also be used to prevent skidding on icy pave- 12 of the lever adjacent its inner end. A pair of vments, or to provide traction on grades with notches 13 is provided in the walls of the channel heavy loads and for other special purposes, such member and a notch 14 in alignment with said as increasing the efiect of the brakes. pair of notches when the lever is in closed or lock- 0 The principal object of the present invention ing position is provided in the edge of the hooked is to provide a strong emergency chain of simple portion of the lever at the base of the hook. construction and easy of application and detach- When the lever is moved to releasing position the :ment and which will remain in adjusted position. notch 14 will serve to carry the terminal chain 21) Another object of the invention is to supply a link outwardly and out of seated position in the chain structure in which the number of parts notches 13 in the channel member. is reduced to a minimum and in which the lever The outer end of the lever is provided with serves both as a chain positioning device and angularly disposed portion which in the closed I as a locking device. or locking position of the lever engages over the 25 Another object of the invention is to provide a central portion of the base plate over the felly device wherein the chain links themselves are of the wheel and extends downwardly adjacent directly engaged at each end with the base plate the other end of the base plate. A shallow so that the downward pull of the chain will be notch 16 is provided on the outer edge of this directly upon the base plate. angularly disposed portion of the lever, and a Other and further objects will appear in the spring finger 17 secured by riveting or other 85 course of the following description. suitable means to the base plate serves to ride To the accomplishment of the foregoing and into this notch to latch the locking lever against related ends, said invention, then, consists of the accidental displacement. means hereinafter fully described and particu- When in open or releasing position the free larly pointed out in the claim, the annexed drawend of the lever comes to rest at an angle to co ing and the following description setting forth in the base plate, and the angular portion thereof detail certain mechanism embodying the invenprovides a hook-like member serving as a temtion, such disclosed means constituting, however, porary support for the free end of the chain, but one of various mechanical forms in which While the device is being applied to the wheel.

, the principle of the invention may be used. The body portion of the lever serves as a guide :95

In said annexed drawing: for the terminal chain link 18 as this lever is Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus turned to clamping position, and serves to slide with the parts disposed in position for prelimisaid link into the notch 14 of the lever which nary engagement; Fig. 2 is a view simlar to Fig. lifts said link over the upper edge of the channel 1 showing the device in locked position about member and seats said link in the pair of notches 1100 a tire; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view taken along 13 of the base plate.

the line 3-3 shown in Fig. 2 looking in the direc- The fact that the terminal link 18 at the free tion of the arrows. end of the chain passes over the pivot pin of As is clearly shown in the drawing, the device the lever to a position inwardly thereof provides comprises a base'plate 1 in the form of a. metal for retaining the locking lever in closed position, 1105 strap formed with a recess 2 centrally of a size but this is further provided for by the engageto engage over the felly 3 of a wheel of an automent of the spring finger with the notch in the mobile. At one end said strap is narrowed and outer edge of the lever. bent upon itself to form an eye 4 to engage over Other modes of applying the principle of our a terminal link 5 of the chain 6. The terminal invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

An apparatus of the character described, having in combination, a sheet metal strap shaped to engage about the telly oi a wheel and having an eye at one end spaced outwardly of and below said felly, a spring latch member secured to said strap inwardly of said eye in spaced relation to the adjacent body portion of said strap, a length of chain permanently secured to said eye at one end of said strap, an upwardly inclined channel member formed at the opposite end of said strap by the upwardly folded side edges thereof and having a pivot member supported at the free end of said strap substantially in the plane of the body portion of said strap, notched seats formed inwardly of said pivot member, a substantially straight plate-like lever member having end portions projecting at right angles thereto, the intermediate portion thereof serving as a link slideway for the terminal chain link, one or" said right angle end portions of said lever being supported on the pivot member at the end of said strap and having, a hook-shaped portion on its inner end providing a notch in alinernent with the notches in said strap portion when in closed position, and the other right angle end portion being adapted to provide a temporary support for the terminal chain link preliminary to its being guided over the intermediate portion of said lever into tensioned position upon the seats of said strap, the free end of said lever being formed with a notch on its outer edge whereby said right angle portion thereof may be engaged between the adjacent body portion of thestrap and said latch member and held in locked position.

LOUIS D. ROUND. CHARLES M. POWER. 

